Support jack for forward end of semi-trailer



May 27, 1958 E. z. DELP ET AL 2,836,432

SUPPORT JACK ROR FORWARD ENO OF SEMI-TRAILER Filed March 28, 1955 United States tratentO SUPPGRT JACK FR FQRWARD END OF SEMI-TRAELER Application March 28, 1955, Serial No. 497,122 4 Claims. (Cl. 23S-475) This invention relates to a novel resilient support for the front end of a semi-trailer type wheeled chassis and to a new process of maneuvering a chassis equipped with such a support to greatly facilitate the coupling of the chassis to a tractor.

ln accordance with the invention, the front end of the chassis when uncoupled from the tractor and parked rests on a depending resiliently downwardly projected support which oatingly carries the front end of the chassis and permits its angular vertical dellection about a fulcrum detined by the axle of the rear supporting wheels of the chassis. v

lt is an important feature of the invention to pivotally associate the support with the chassis so that it may rock on its base and permit horizontal or longitudinal movement of the chassis towad the drawbar or coupling element of a tractor while permitting the forward end of the chassis to be simultaneously manually vertically deected to the proper height for cooperation with the coupling element.

A further important feature consists in providing such a support which, as an incident of the uncoupling of its associated chassis from the tractor, automatically adjusts to and can be selectively xed at the proper length to accurately position the chassis for future recoupling. To this end, the support may be formed as a resiliently extensible rigid element pivoted to the chassis as above mentioned and including means for selectively maintaining the support at any of various degrees of elongation. Thus, during uncoupling of the chassis from the tractor when the support is swung downwardly into engagement with the ground and the chassis backed to cause erection of the same, the resiliently extensible support will be automatically compressed to the correct height and secured at such height or degree of elongation before the unconpling is completed so that it may be recoupled to the same tractor without further adjustment or maneuvering.

Such a support also makes possible the maneuvering of the chassis by bouncing the front end of same up and down on the support and moving it laterally on its rear wheels in steps occurring near the peak of each bounce.

in addition, the invention includes a new process of thus maneuvering the chassis to facilitate its coupling to a tractor drawbar comprising bouncing the forward end of the chassis on the support at a frequency substantially equal to the natural frequency of oscillation of t'ne chassis about the fulcrum dened by its rear axle, and moving the chassis laterally on its supporting wheels near the peak of each bounce to properly position it for coupling to the tractor drawbar.

Although the invention has been illustrated and described in the present application in association with the chassis or frame of a side delivery hay rake, it will be readily apparent that the invention is by no means limited to this specific application, but is adapted for general application to the chassis of any relatively light semi-trailer.

the raking reel (not shown).

C@ 253e isa Eger-terrieri May 27,

In the accompanying drawings: v

Figure 1 represents a side elevational view of a hay rake (shown fragmentarily), the instant invention being incorporated in the rake chassis and the latter being shown with its hitch portion positioned adjacent the drawbar of a tractor preparatory to being coupled thereto:

Figure 2, an enlarged fragmentary side elevation of the hitch portion of the rake chassis showing the resilient support of the invention applied thereto, the support being shown in broken lines in its retracted position after the hitch portion has been coupled to the. drawbar which, together with the hitch pin is shown in broken lines;

Figure 3, a sectional elevation on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4, a side elevation of the support of Figure 3; an

Figure 5, a cross section on the line 5 5 of Figure Referring now in detail to the accompanying drawings, the hay rake there shown in part is generally similar to that disclosed, for example, in the U. S. patent to R. W. lohnson, No. 2,658,324 of November l0, 1953.

Such rake' comprises the rigid medially upwardly arched chassis or frame structure 1, the rear or trailing end of which is supported on transversely opposed wheels such as 2 rotatably journaled on axle 3 which extends transversely to the line of movement of the frame. At its forwardrend the chassis 1 is provided with a hitch element, preferably in the form of a clevis having Vertically opposed furcations 4 and 5 respectively adapted to extend above and below the rear drawbar 6 of a usual farm tractor 7, illustrated fragmentarily in'Figure i. The clevis is operatively coupled to the drawbar 6 in usual manner by a hitch pin disposed through vertically registering openings a", d', and 6 in the clevis and in the drawbar.

in the instant disclosure, there are also included addition parts or" a side delivery rake which are merely shown incidentally and constitute no part of the instant invention.. These include the usual sub-frame 9 for supporting Sub-frame 9 is pivotally supported at its forward end at 10 on a bracket 11 xed to the chassis l and the rear portion of sub-frame 9 is linked at 12 to a bell crank lever 13 which may be actuated through the crank 14 and the rod 15 having its end threadedly received in sleeve 16 to raise or lower the rear section of the sub-frame 9. The rod is supported through a bearing l? trunnioned on bracket 18 and a spring 19 under compression between the bearing 17 and crank 'lil provides a resilient floating support for the rear end of the sub-frame 9. The hydraulic cylinder 2G, medially pivoted lever 21, and connecting rod 22 between lever 21 and bell crank lever 13 merely illustrate a conventional alternative mechanism for raising or lowering the sub-frame 9 from the tractor through usual hydraulic means connected to the cylinder 20, as will be readily understood by those skilled in the art.

The resiliently extensible support 23 for the forward or hitch end of the rake chassis in the preferred embodiment comprises a pair of relatively slideable telescopically associated tubular metal sections 2a and 25. Honsed within these tubular sections 24, 25 is a compression spring 26 which, as will be seen in Figure 2, thrusts against the relatively remote ends 27 and 28 of the respective sections.

In order to limit the extensibility of the support 23,

suitable stop means is provided inthe form of a boss or stud 29 on theinner section 25 projecting outwardly and moveable longitudinally through a slot 30 in section 24 into abutting engagement with a stop plate 31 which is welded across the lower end of slot 30 as may best be l seen by reference to Figure 5 of the drawings.

Voperating'handle 33 to d wardlyV `bent `extension terminating inra Q portion of the channehmemher plate 27 AatY the lowerend of rtelescoping,section 25 is' extended 'laterally beyond-the sides of section 2S to pro-V Yslotted fasteningV tab 33 Y rochedfforwardly on the' base 27 thus Y vapertures tY and 5' `"lcally aligned with the tractor,

' virtue ofI the tilting action of pivot 3S as i Y' 2,73 mayV be permitted either 36 Yfrom its stud polzpreferably` by allowing enough 'Y ,slack in the chain 35 Vtof permit Ymovement of the hitchV felements 4 andt frontsuhstantially-V Y,ure-l into'coupling r'elationwith the tractor drawbar 6 merely: gaps the; fronti'rend l Meanstfor securingY or locking the'telscoping sections and Y25 against relative movement to thus tix the lengthY 'of the support 23 at anyiof various selected lengths may conveniently comprise a set screw 32'threaded through the stoprplatel and having a right" gularly disposed facilitate turningjit into or out of locking engagement with the innerrsectionflr.

As has alreadybeen mentioned, the support'i Ois pivV otally supported on the chassis i for'ioreand-aft swinging movement between the depending',operative'positions illustrated in full vlinesV in Figures l and l2 and the 'rearwardly'upwardlyswung retracted position illustrated in broken lines ingFigureZ, ln order to provide such a Vpivotal connection, the coyer'plate 22's at the upward end provided with an integr-al up' of tubular section'li' is A l Y hingeiknuckle 34 which isY disposed between thev opposedn sideszofr the channel-shaped clevis furcation A pintle 'passed through the opposite YVsides'of said channeled furcation Stand throughthe knuckle 3f:- completes the pivotal coni nection.l

. Yin thisV arrangementY it swinging movement of the support or legl is limited by engagement bet-weenitheeud 280i tuhularmernber 24 and the downwardly 'presented surface of the horizontal S. Preferably `the end vide an adequate ground engaging base or pedestal for the support 23Y as shown. Y L i j- Y flf desired, suitable releasahle means may be provided formaintaining the Ystubport Y23 in depending or erected position in order to'V avoid Yaccidental collapse of *theY Y' forward endof iframe 1'. Such means may conveniently Vembody a section .of `chain 3e having one end Vsecured to te1escopingsection 24as byVv/eldingfat 37.Y At its other or free endthe chain `315 maycarrya usual bayonet adapted for coaction inV usual manner with the stud V39 on clevis section 5. YVThe* sameV VVchain 36 may. also be utilized for securing'thesupport 23 inraised .or retractedY position as illustrated inflrigf` ure 2. lnrsuch event,`the tab 39 maybe hooked'nverl Vwill Ybe noted that the forwardV the stud lilou thoupperf clevismember Vlas Vshown inV Y' Figure 2,

The base 27 is of fore-and-aft direction Visv manuallyjpulled forwardl-ytowai'drthe drawbar V6 of Y k such forward'rrnovementbeing permitted by the 'support 23Y about Vits above mentioned. l 'Such Vtiltingof'thersupport' theY position Vof Fig' by disconnecting the Vchain Y Y adjustment.

inasmuch` Y andV of the chassis 1K,

*Y the rake frame 1, in anyphorlzontal directionas requiredV V` ln the event therrakeffiranie or'rchassis"Y islocated an Y chassis linto Y proper'couplingposition with the drawhar To this end,V

j the `farmer for vworkman appreciable distance from theldrawbar'ofwe have co-n- Y fceiv'e'd a novel and highly Vprac-tical of maneuvering the` said may he .reconnected to stud Y from it, theicenter antenas Y Y f frequency of oscillation of Ythe rake frame 1V aboutit axis of oscillation defined by the rear axle d'3. Y nEach tim the forwardk end of the chassis l is near the peak'o ity of its oscillating motion, it will be'appar 'I the pedestal 27 of the support 2-3'Will1eithe have bouncedv clearV of the ground vor else will Ver'lgag the ground with such a small amount of pressure tha the chassis l may he readily pulled forwardly ,orV swung laterally in ani/'direction as necessary to bring thenhitcl portions 4 and into proper proximity to the Adrawbai 6. during such maneuvering' ofthe frame 1 the vchain 3,6 will he secured Vin the manner illustrated in Figure 2 to prevent Yrearward Vfolding ofthe support 23. infsoine cases it will he'fo'und practical Yto regulate the amplitude of oscillation so that at one extremity ion the hitchk portions are positioned yat' the i) ro of osciii proper h-- ht for Vreception of the drawbar, and while they are thus positionedtto cause such' relatiyehori-k z ovntal Vn'i'overnent ,between thehitch portion and drawbar Vasis necessary-t0 complete `the 4coupling of thesefparts. As soon ,as the cleyis members .4 and 5 are disposed in operative relation to thedrawbar 6 and the pin S is operatively positioned as shot-,vain Figure -2, therchain'36 maybe released andY tractor 7 moved forwardly to tilt thesup'port Z3 on itstb'ase so that it may he swung upf wardiy to inoperative position, whereupon the chaintltV tatto thus retain support 23 in its retracted position.' :t d

When it is desired to uncoupl'ethe rakertframe vl'fromV the tractor drawhar @chain E6 is 1'isconnectedrfrom the stud 4i? to ypermit downwardv inging of the support 23 'by gravity until its base 27teng'ages the ground. At

`this time backing the tractor and rake frame will causeYYY the support Z3 to tilt forwardlyahout its base 27V to erect positiom'aiid in sofswingingrthe ground pressure von the` supportfi will automatically @compress the ysarneto the, f proper'height for cooperation with the particular-draw# bar Before uncoupling Ythe tractor Yand, chassis, the f set screw 3 2 may 4be etui-ned' into locking engagement-V with the telescopin'g section `25, to thusV prevent relative movement hetweenthesections 2a and 25 andthus main-'K5 tain the support at its( adjusted length.:V Thus, afterrl the hitch pin eis removed Vand the tractor driven away, 7,

,theV support 23 will vmaintain thehiteh portion 4 and f5 of the frame l accurately atttheiiroper height forrecoue pling to the' drawbar 6 without necessity fort-further in such c,aseitwill` 'be necessary` simplyf for Ythe operator to baclathetractorvuntil its drawbar 6v is receivedbetween thelfurcations 4i andS whereupon the coupling may be completedin well known manner.y f Thus, by virtue of theY resilientextensibilitygof theY support 23 and its pivotal Y l it is possible for the ope Y I 5 tothe ,sie height sttheaacheaa Y draw the chassis l forwardly jfonop'erative association Y with the tractor drawbarf 6.

of the uncoupling ofthe tractor and the chassislfanl Vthe erection Vofthe support 23, the supportY is automati-' cally adjustedV to",V proper length-and imaybeVv lockedglatl such length Vto facilitaterecoupling ofthe tra'oto'rgand Y Chassis. V.lt will be further apparentV that thereY isl 'dis-l closed a novel and,v highly useful method of maneuvering to'properly position it Y tractor. Y t t i ci ,t Having` thus'described our invention, i

for coupling Y Y ve claim: t

' VYljln a semi-trailei,j a rigid chassis having aV forward end and a rear end, ground'wheels'supportinggsaidrear end and Yproviding generalljtf',` horizontal` axes; about Vwhich ward end lfor connection`toy a `said,ifforward endv land .projecting t connection [35u/ith the chassis ,tothe drawbarV of: the

aid voscillatahle support means comprising a spring extensively deectable vertically and extending between said forward end and the ground, spring engaging means limiting lateral deflection of the spring while permitting relatively free vertical deflection thereof, said spring having an upper end and a lower end, means pivotally connecting said upper end to said forward end of said chassis for pivotal movement relative thereto upon bodily movement of said chassis, and xed means at said lower end of said spring resting on the ground and rockable on the ground upon said bodily movement of the chassis, said oscillatable support means being manually operable to position said hitch element at the same height as the height of said drawbar to permit the space between the hitch element and drawbar to be closed and the hitch readily connected to the drawbar upon bodily movement of said chassis.

2. In a semi-trailer as recited in Claim 1, wherein means vconnected between said spring and chassis is provided for limiting the pivoting of the upper end of said spring relative to the chassis and the rocking of the lower end on the ground on bodily movement of the chassis.

3. In a semi-trailer as recited in Claim 1, wherein the spring engaging means for limiting lateral deection of the spring while permitting relatively free vertical deection thereof comprises upper and lower relatively slidend of the upper telescopic member and the forward end of said chassis, said rocking means resting on the ground comprising a at base member at the lower end of the lower telescopic member, and a flexible member connecting said upper telescopic member and said chassis for limiting the pivoting and rocking of said spring.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Jones Feb. l5, 1927 Eckert Apr. 14, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS Canada Apr. 25, 1950 France Apr. 8, 1940 Germany May 28, 1942 Great Britain Nov. 11, 1926 

